Inclusive partnerships are an integral part of effective development co-operation. They bring together diverse actors, leveraging their unique strengths and adapting to local contexts while aligning with shared goals and values. By embracing a multistakeholder approach, inclusive partnerships enhance development outcomes in support of the 2030 Agenda.
Inclusive development partnerships
Abstract
Inclusive partnerships recognise and build on the diverse and complementary roles of all actors including national and local governments, civil society organisations, the private sector, foundations and multilaterals.
Inclusive partnerships are essential for delivering on the 2030 Agenda, as they:
harness resources across all development actors at all levels to work together on shared development goals.
recognise the plurality, diversity and complementarity of actors, along with their capacity and opportunity to contribute
support adaptation to local contexts, underpinned by shared goals and values.
The challenge: More diverse actors, interests and priorities bring more complexity. Power imbalances and contextual factors (e.g. shrinking civic space, corruption and fragile democracy) often necessitate trade-offs between respecting country ownership and forging inclusivity.
Inclusive partnerships are a core principle of effective development co-operation, as set out in the Busan Partnership Agreement, which all DAC members have endorsed. In practice, this implies that DAC members:
Note: The OECD DAC Peer Review Analytical Framework sets out basic standards for DAC members to ensure they deliver development co-operation that is supportive of country ownership. This requires that DAC members' political engagement, strategy and programming be based on the country context and reflect partner countries' priorities, needs and capacity across all levels of government and stakeholders.
1. Articulate a clear vision and approach for each actor's contribution to shared outcomes
Finland’s Guidelines for Civil Society in Development Policy aim to strengthen civil societies in developing countries and support their work in achieving development goals.
Portugal fosters triangular co-operation to move beyond traditional donor-recipient relations and create horizontal partnerships for sharing knowledge and experiences.
Spain’s whole-of-society Development Co-operation Council includes representatives from non-government organisations, academia, the private sector and public institutions. It supports unified approaches to development challenges and builds ownership across the system.
2. Finance partnerships in ways that strengthen capacity and institutions
Canada supports the Equality Fund, which applies an innovative financing model to create long-term, sustainable and flexible funding for women’s rights organisations and feminist movements worldwide.
Germany provides financial and technical support through the “develoPPP” programme to promote private-sector activities with entrepreneurial opportunities in line with their development co-operation policy.
Iceland’s framework agreements with four Icelandic civil society organisations have built their institutional and financial capacities.
Ireland provides significant core support and innovative funding to civil society partners, enhancing their capacity for long-term planning and reducing their administrative burden through a competitive application process that prioritises capacity, policies and theories of change.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand strengthened institutional capacity in partner countries through emergency fiscal budget support for Pacific small island developing states, leveraging reform-linked funding to maintain stability and boost recovery.
3. Consult and engage with all relevant stakeholders
Ireland promotes multi-stakeholder dialogue through specific platforms on agriculture, health, development education and violence against women. These platforms bring together government, civil society, academia and the private sector to enable regular exchange and co-ordination.
Korea has conducted an annual Partner Countries’ Satisfaction Survey since 1998, allowing KOICA to enhance the quality of its development co-operation partnerships.
New Zealand reshaped its civil society support through local co-creation, resulting in the Partnering for Impact (P4I) programme which enhances flexibility and ownership of civil society organisations while empowering local organisations in partner countries.
Spain supports horizontal and inclusive partnerships through bilateral partnership frameworks (Marco de Asociación País – MAPs) developed in consultation with stakeholders. MAPs are implemented through alliances, building on synergies and aligning to partner country needs and priorities.
The United Kingdom integrates feedback mechanisms into programmes, engaging partners and stakeholders in its development co-operation efforts. For example, it co-hosted the Global Disability Summit with the Government of Kenya and the International Disability Alliance.
4. Promote an enabling environment that empowers partners to fulfill their mandates
Canada supports "Southern Voice", a network of 50 think tanks from Africa, Asia and Latin America that addresses existing knowledge and power imbalances through more inclusive participation of diverse actors, local data and evidence in global development debates.
Ireland is a leading advocate for promoting civic space and engages in close dialogue with partner organisations. As a result, civil society partnerships are characterised by mutual trust and flexible and reliable funding.
The Netherlands promotes an inclusive and human rights-based approach to technology and the protection of civic space online by encouraging digital safety, digital inclusion of civil society and the protection of human rights online.
The United Kingdom supports the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa Fund to advance mission-driven innovation combining research and private sector actors.
5. Mainstream social inclusion considerations into partnerships
Australia mainstreams disability equity and rights in its development co-operation across strategies, funding and partnerships. Italy also places a strong emphasis on disability throughout its programme cycle, with extensive guidance on disability informing its interventions.
Through a dedicated financing mechanism, the Netherlands funds local women’s rights organisations and feminist movements that are well placed to address structural and societal drivers of gender inequalities.
Switzerland has issued dedicated guidance, adapted its results management and implemented training to integrate the “Leaving no one behind” principle into all its co-operation activities. Programmes reflect this principle in their design and will disaggregate standardised results indicators for gender and another relevant groups.
How do we know if DAC members are moving in the right direction?
DAC members’ policies and strategies promote and enable working with diverse partners at country level, considering local context and risk appetite.
DAC members engage representatives of women and girls, youth and children, and vulnerable and marginalised groups in the preparation of their country-level strategies/partnership frameworks.
Partner country governments lead and engage in inclusive multi-stakeholder partnerships to implement their national development strategies and priorities.
Diverse partner perspectives enhance the quality of development co-operation policies and interventions through regular consultation and dialogue.
Local actors, including national and local governments, civil society, the private sector and communities exercise agency in framing, designing, delivering and monitoring development co-operation efforts.
2023-2026 Monitoring Guide: Technical Guide for National Co-ordinators and Other Participants, Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Guidance for Development Partners, Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Kampala Principles Toolkit, Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development: Lessons from the DAC, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Funding civil society in partner countries: Toolkit for implementing the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance, OECD Publishing, Paris.
DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance, [OECD/LEGAL/5021].
Partnering with civil society: Twelve Lessons from DAC Peer Reviews, OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Pathways Towards Effective Locally Led Development Co-operation: Learning by Example, OECD Publishing, Paris.
More Framework principles are available on Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices.
